Paul Mayfield

I AM not used to having a go at the Rovers’ players, but following the effort they put in at Barnsley on Saturday, they should be ashamed.

The 2,305 Rovers fans’ who shelled out £23 per ticket after Barnsley lowered their prices, heeded the rallying call to get behind the team and showed their commitment.

But too many players looked like they did not want to be there.

And for manager Dean to admit that two of the starting line-up (Brian Stock and Billy Sharp) had not trained for two weeks, was really a bitter pill to swallow.

When centre-back Shelton Martis came off groin injury after 30 minutes, why didn’t he drop skipper George Friend into the centre of the defence and put either Giles Barnes or Kyle Bennett on?

I felt sorry for Adam Lockwood, coming back from a long injury. He came off the bench only to be shown a red card, which even Keith Hill the Barnsley manager said was harsh, in the 72nd minute.

We only mustered one shot all game, and that wasn’t on target.

It had been a bad day all round as I had lost a Supporters’ Club bus booking sheet and to see all these extra faces, who I did not have on the list waiting for the buses, was worrying. Thankfully we got everyone on board. Thanks to Ian Hepworth and the Travel Club coach for their back-up.

The players have got a big match against Watford at the Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow to make amends for the Barnsley game.

Watford have also been struggling along with us this season so it is a game that on paper we have a good chance of picking up all three points and we certainly need them.

As a result of Bristol City’s win at Millwall the gap is getting bigger. But in Rovers we continue to believe.

It’s getting like a merry-go-round at the moment with all the players coming in and those who we have been linked with. To think at the start of the season we nearly did not sign Rachid Bouhenna as he could not speak English. How times have changed?

I think we are trying to get every Senegal-born player into the ranks. Lets hope they blend quickly and drag us out of this mess.

I wonder what they will all make of the New Den at Millwall on Tuesday night?

It’s not the best place to go at anytime, but the 200 or so brave- hearted supporters making the trip need to get behind the team more than ever.

Let’s hope for a positive outcome from both games.

At the Watford game Rovers will be cheered on by 200 players and family members from Bessacarr Junior Football club, who are celebrating 30 years since they formed. I hope they enjoy the day.

We will be selling Supporters’ Club raffle tickets outside the Lakeside Bar on Saturday. It’s your chance to win £250 as well as numerous other prizes. Please make an old man happy and buy a ticket.

Due to the lack of numbers travelling to Millwall on Tuesday, we have had to amalgamate several of the coaches, the re-scheduled times are now: Wilfreda yard (Adwick) 1.00pm, Infirmary 1.45, Keepmoat 2.00, Rossington Styrupp 2.15, Harworth pit gates 2.25 and Markham Moor 2.35.

If you intend to travel please phone me on 07961-727769 or Len on 01302-817347.